So…six months down the line, and I still haven't gotten my life in order.

I am so sorry for taking so long in updating my stories. If I seem to disappear for months, it's not because I've abandoned these stories. I've either been hit with writer's block, or I simply do not have the time to sit down and write. University has been an absolute mess of assignments and dead-lines and everything in between, and on top of that I decided to try and start working again. Thankfully, things finally seem to be mellowing out to a degree. It's likely not gonna last though, so if I take a while to update again, please know, it's not intentional.

Thank you to all the readers who are still with me on this. I really appreciate the fact that you guys stuck around to see this story updated. And I hope you guys enjoy it.

The next morning Nora had announced after breakfast that she had some business to take care off in town, so Modo had offered to give her a ride. Rimfire immediately announced he was going with. Vinnie had dared Throttle to a race shortly after they had left, leaving Charley by herself. She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself, so she found herself agonizing over what had transpired in the last month.

When she had decided to do this, it seemed so simple. Sparing the bros from their awful experience with the Plutarkians was her goal. Now though? Meeting the rest of the freedom fighters and the bros' families put everything into perspective. Charley hated to admit it, but she really knew nothing about her bros. She had spent three years with them, and never even knew that Throttle had a mother. Well, she knew he had to have one, obviously, but she never thought to ask about her. Same thing with Vinnie. He did briefly mention his mother in the past, thinking back to the incident with his baby photos, but now he spoke about a grandmother. One that Charley had no prior knowledge of. Out of all of the bros, the only one she had any information on regarding their lives before meeting her was Modo. And even then, she only got that information via anecdotes and by meeting one member of his family, namely Rimfire. Whom she felt was not really happy with her presence right now. She sighed, leaning forward and placing her head in her hands.

She was pulled out of her musings by a knock at her door.

"Hey Charley, would you like to help me outside in the garden?" Primer called through the door. Charley held back a sigh. Yet another mouse she had no idea how to handle. She held her breath for a moment then let it out.

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" She called, getting up and pulling her hair into a ponytail. She opened the door with a smile. Primer was holding a basket filled with gardening tools, and dressed in an old looking summer dress that had certainly seen better days, but would be perfect for working in the garden.

"C'mon, I have some new beocan seedlings we can plant." She said with a bright, infectious smile. Charley giggled.

"Well, I don't know what a beocan is, but I'll be happy to help. Just show me what to do." She said as she followed the mouse outside. The garden was quite impressive, considering that the planet was suffering from a water shortage due to the Plutarkians. "I'm actually surprised. This is probably the most plant life I've seen since coming to Mars." Primer shrugged and gestured to a patch of ground to her left, handing Charley a trowel.

"Yeah. Most of the plants I have don't need that much water anyway, so it helps at least. Could you start digging some holes, about 4 inches deep and 6 inches apart?" Charley kneeled on the ground taking the trowel with a surprised look on her face.

"You know the imperial system?" Primer winked.

"Hey, you humans have come up with some pretty useful things over the years." Charley giggled and turned her attention to the ground in front of her. Primer started working on some plants behind her, turning her back on Charley. "Out of curiosity, why did you decide to join up with the Freedom Fighters so shortly after escaping the Plutarkians? I would think after spending three years with them, you'd want to run the other way." Charley paused before shrugging as nonchalantly as she could manage.

"I saw what they were doing to this planet. I know as soon as they are done here, they will move on to my home. I figured, if I can help stop them now, then I save two planets." She glanced behind her to watch Primer fiddling with a plant, pruning the dead branches. "What about you?" Primer paused and looked back at Charley.

"What about me?" She asked, seeming uncertain.

"Why don't you want to join the Freedom Fighters? I know that Rimfire is all gung-ho about it, but you don't seem all that keen." Primer floundered and shrugged.

"I'm not really a fighter. I mean, I can tell the difference between a Nodding Kudzu and a Downy Pokeroot, but that's not really useful to the fighters." Charley raised a brow.

"Um...what are those?" She asked. Primer waved a hand in the air.

"Two plants that look very alike, but the Downy Pokeroot can be used in a poultice for laser burns, while the Nodding Kudzu can put you in a coma if you breathe in the pollen. Hence the name." Charley did a double take.

"You think that wouldn't be useful to the Fighters?" Primer turned her, brows drawn together.

"Well…like I said, I'm not a fighter…what use will I be if I join them?" Charley shook her head, stupefied.

"Primer. There's more to being a Freedom Fighter than…well, fighting. Harley and I are mainly at the base, taking care of the bikes and any injuries that occur in the field. You could lend your knowledge on plant life, maybe you and Harley can figure out how to use some plants in…I don't know, a knock-out gas, or even a stink-bomb. Don't sell your abilities short just because you think you can't fight." Primer was staring at her, seemingly star-struck.

"You…you really think I'd be able to help the fighters?" Her voice was small, and Charley smiled encouragingly.

"Absolutely…when you're older that is." She added. It wouldn't do for Modo to receive calls from TWO stubborn teenagers wanting to join the fighters. Primer's smile brightened and she turned back to her plants. Charley turned back to digging the holes again.

"Thanks Charley, I'll think about…wait…How did you know Rimfire wants to join the Freedom Fighters?" Charley froze for a second, not daring to look back at the mouse incase her face give away her panic. She scrambled over possible reason in her head before settling on one.

"I overheard him and Modo on the comms a few weeks ago. Modo seemed kinda agitated when he said no, so I figured that it wasn't the first time Rimfire had asked." Charley snuck a quick glance back at Primer, but the mouse had continued pruning her plant. She released a quiet sigh of relief, and went back to digging.

"Ok. Hey, I think I left my watering can inside. Can you finish up the holes while I go get it?" Primer asked standing up and dusting her knees as she headed for the door. Charley sent her a thumbs.

"Sure."

Rimfire was in a foul mood. He had spent the last hour or so listening to his uncle gushing over the human to his grandmomma. And she seemed to be lapping it all up, just like she did last night. He bit his tongue to keep from scoffing again as his uncle went off again.

"She's even gonna help Vinnie out with his courtship with Harley! He's been pining over that girl for months but he's been too scared to approach her, but Charley-girl's given his confidence a real boost. Not that he really needs it, but ya know how he is. They've been working on something that Vinnie can give Harley when we get back to headquarters." Modo was smiling brightly as he helped his momma tie the groceries securely to the bike. Nora smiled warmly at her son.

"She certainly is a very nice girl from what I've seen. I'm glad you boys finally have someone to watch out for you in the field. I know Stoker does his best, but he's still got a rebellion to lead, and he gets so frustrated with the army and all." She said with a smile, then looked down at the list in her hands. "Now, I just need one more thing and then we can head on home. You boys wait here and I'll be back in a few minutes." With that, she walked off, leaving Rimfire to glare at his uncle's back as the large mouse kneeled down next to the Lil' Hoss, checking on her drive chain. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

"Uncle Modo, are you really sure about this?" he started, trying to sound as mature as possible. Modo turned his head and glanced back at him, noting his expression.

"Sure about what?" he asked carefully. Rimfire sighed again and crossed his arms.

"About this human, Charlene. I mean, you guys really haven't known her that long, and she's already part of the group? And she…I know she said she was a prisoner of the Plutarkians but what if that was a lie to get you to trust her?" He was speaking rapidly, but he needed his Uncle to understand his point. He watched as his uncle's shoulders sagged and he stood up, walking over to the curb next to Rimfire and sitting down. He gestured for Rimfire to join him, and after a few moments, Rimfire sat down next to him, keeping his head down.

"You're thinking she might be a spy?" He peeked at his uncle's face, seeing a pensive look aimed at him. Unsure what to make of it, he turned his gaze back to his feet and nodded.

"It just seems…way too convenient, don't you think?" He began drawing patterns in the red sand. "I mean, Stoker just happens to find her near the Argyre Basin after the Plutarkians clear it out, and she's spent just enough time with them to be familiar enough with alien technology so she's actually an asset to the Freedom Fighters?" He focused back on his uncle, who had raised his eyebrow at him.

"How'd you know the Argyre Basin had been cleared out?" Rimfire blushed and rubbed the back of his head, and his uncle sighed again. "You've been listenin' to our channels again, haven't you?"

"I've gotta stay on top of things for when I join the fight!" He insisted. Modo shook his head with a chuckle and pulled at his ears.

"Still a few years before that's gonna happen nephew!" Rimfire winced and leaned as far as he could from his uncle's reach, which wasn't that far, so he lifter his hands and covered his ears as well. Modo laughed at his expression before sobering up. "I get it, Nephew. I do. And your worries aren't that far off either." Rimfire's eyes widened and he turned back to his uncle.

"Really? You think she's a spy too?" he questioned, but he watched as his uncle shook his head.

"Well, the bros and I were suspicious at first. I mean, it's like you said, it did seem a little too convenient. After Charley arrived, we all got called out to another fight, and on the way back, Stoker took us aside and told us to be careful. And for the first few weeks we were. We tried to keep our distance to make sure she wouldn't be able to get too close to us. But then, she insisted on helping me bandage an injury I got after a battle." Rimfire rolled his eyes.

"Just because she can do first aid doesn't mean she's not a spy, Uncle Modo." Modo smirked.

"I know that, but you didn't see or hear her that time." Rimfire turned back to his uncle. "She reminded me of your mom. Stubborn in a brutal way, but there was a deep sense of caring under all the bluster. The bros and I started warming up to her, all of the freedom fighters did. But the real game changer for us came with our first field mission together." His uncle had a soft smile on his face, but Rimfire raised his eyebrow.

"You mean the mission that got you in trouble with Stoker, and got you guys forced military leave?" he asked in a dead pan voice. Modo laughed.

"Technically, we ain't military so we don't get military leave." He said with a smile. "Charley tried to sabotage the Plutarkian machines by herself, and if Vinnie hadn't decided to be a hard-ass and try to take down two Plutarkians by himself, she would have gotten away with it. But then we came back from the mission." He turned fully to face Rimfire. "She took full responsibility for the mission failure, even though she could have just let Stoker punish us all. She stood up for us Rimfire, and I believe she meant every single word. When we stood up for her, she looked genuinely shocked, but we saw the truth in her eyes Rimfire. She really ain't like those stink-faces. And I know it sounds absolutely insane to say this, but it's like the bros and I have known her for years."

Rimfire let his uncle's words sink in. If what his uncle said was true then the hum…Charley, really was on their side. He looked back up at his uncle, still feeling uncertain. Modo smiled kindly at him.

"You don't have to trust her right away, but at least give her a chance. I can guarantee you, she's gonna grow on you like she did with me and the bros." At that moment, Nora came up behind them holding another bag.

"Are you boys ready to go?" she asked, smiling at them. Modo stood up and handed his momma her helmet, before turning to Rimfire with his hand held out.

"Ya comin', nephew?" Rimfire smiled and grasped his Uncle's hand, letting himself be pulled up.

When they got home, Throttle and Vinnie had started lunch, with Charley helping to set the table. She immediately put the plates down and moved to help them pack away the groceries. Rimfire watched her as she poked fun at the bros, giving sass as well as taking it from Vinnie, but all in a good natured way. She seemed to…fit? Almost seamlessly. And looking back on it, he couldn't even remember the last time his uncle laughed like that. Or any of the bros. Maybe he had judged her too quic…

His thoughts were cut off when Primer pulled on his tail. He turned around to see her with an anxious look on her face, and she gestured for him to follow her. He glanced back to see if anyone was watching, then slipped out of the kitchen after his sister. She led him down the hall to his bedroom, then shut the door behind her. "Primer, you ok?"

"You were right. There is something wrong with her." She said suddenly. Rimfire's eyes narrowed.

"What do ya mean? What did you find out?" She looked at him, and for the first time, Rimfire noticed the actual fear in her eyes.

"She knows you want to join the Freedom Fighters." Rimfire cocked his head.

"So? Uncle Modo could have told her about that, that doesn't mean she's a Plutarkian spy." He was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but something had clearly put his sister on edge.

"Uncle Modo didn't tell her. She says she heard you two talking about it over the comms." That single sentence made his blood run cold.

"But…the last time I asked Uncle Modo about it was…" he trailed off as his sister nodded.

"Three months ago. LONG before she joined the Freedom Fighters." He took a deep breath, sinking down onto the bed. "What do we do? Should we tell Uncle Modo?" he shook his head.

"I spoke to him. He and the bros trust her fully, they ain't gonna believe us." He looked up at his sister, determination in his gaze. "We're gonna have to confront her ourselves."

Thanks again to everyone that is still reading this.

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